Op-Ed: EPA Opens the Door to a Silent Killer — Asbestos

This article represents his opinions. The Environmental Protection Agency would like you to think it is taking an “unprecedented” stand against the hazards of asbestos, the mineral that kills nearly 40,000 Americans each year from mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. It is not. In fact, on June 1, the EPA announced a significant new use rule (SNUR) that will allow companies to manufacture, import and process new asbestos-containing products after it evaluates their potential health dangers. The standards to evaluate those health risks, which are included in a nearly 1,500-page document, will focus on possible harm from direct contact with asbestos at the workplace or elsewhere. Prior to this policy change, the EPA imposed strict regulations on the use of asbestos and banned any new uses. Why? Because more than 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year, according to the American Cancer Society. Mesothelioma is a hidden killer. It takes 20 to 50 years for the first symptoms to show up, and when they do, most patients are in the later stages of the disease and can die in less than two years if they are not undergoing specialized treatments. Do you have questions about asbestos, its dangers or the EPA’s changes? Email Walter for more information or media inquiries. Firsthand Asbestos Accounts I hear from mesothelioma patients and their families every day. Patients can hardly breathe. Some can’t swallow certain fo...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: news